How a house is built
Digging and backfill
Dig to the footing depth, keep the hole stable, then put soil back only after the wall and the drain can take it.
Arrow keys turn the house. Plus and minus, or the zoom buttons, change the zoom. A horizontal drag turns it after you tap the drawing. Reset view returns to the step camera.
The drawing needs WebGL. The notes on the page still stand.
Before anyone enters an excavation, a competent person evaluates the soil, water, adjacent loads, and required protective system. Protection can be needed in shallow cuts as well as deep ones. Dewatering and safe access are planned as part of that work.
Backfill waits until the foundation wall can resist the pressure and the drain at the footing is in place. Soil goes back in layers. The finished grade slopes away from the house. This model shows the pad those steps are aiming at.